In response to a comprehensive review of the awards and decorations system, the DoD has created the “R” – or remote – category of military awards, which it said will go towards ensuring the role played by virtual operatives is highlighted alongside their colleagues with boots on the ground.
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While these definitions will change medal awards going forward, officials said no previously awarded Bronze Stars will be reviewed and the changes do not diminish any awards given previously.
The small pin denoting the letter essentially is the successor to the short-lived Distinguished Warfare Medal, derisively known as the “Nintendo medal”, that was fraught with controversy and Pentagon politics from its inception.
Previously, the services only used a Bronze “V” device to distinguish medals given for valor, but officials said the different branches tended to use this device differently.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will review the recommendations for approval.
Over the phone, Tom Kelley, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and a recipient of the Medal of Honor, echoed this sentiment, saying that if troops are not being recognized for their actions, “for one reason or another” he sees no problem reviewing those cases, but drew the line at a blanket review, adding that “this is the process and the process works”.
The result of that study was released Thursday, and includes a huge new Pentagon initiative to review over 1,000 medals the military has awarded during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On one side of the issue, some vets have opposed such a possible accolade, apparently calling it the “geek cross”, and didn’t want such an award to rank higher than combat medals.
The Pentagon is also introducing a “C” device for “meritorious service under combat”. Three of those were initially considered for a Service Cross, but were upgraded to the Medal of Honor. The Defense Department will also more strictly define who can receive combat awards, which, according to USA Today, will limit the awards to troops involved in hostile situations or those at “significant risk” of being in those situations.
To date, 17 service members who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan have received the nation’s highest commendation for valor.
The officials weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the changes ahead of the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Carter also is expected to tweak the policy for service members receiving an award with a “V” device, in light of there being a discrepancy in the services.
The standard for combat will be the same for Bronze Stars as well as the “C” combat distinguishing device, so there will be no circumstances under which a service member would receive a Bronze Star with a “C”. Thus, troops now deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan would be eligible for Bronze Stars under the new criteria.
While the changes resulting from the feedback received and the overall review of the process will serve to standardize the awards system somewhat, officials emphasized that differences may still remain in keeping with the various service cultures.
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Officials said there seemed to be a misperception that in order to get the military’s highest award, a service member had to be killed or injured.
